Optics Physics Events Melissa Booker Physics Teacher Robinson Secondary MCBooker@fcps.edu

Event Format Part I—Test on Geometric and Physical Optics Part II—Laser Shoot Basics—Kids need to figure out where to place to mirror so that a laser beam will travel around a barrier to a target

Event Parameters Competitors may bring tape measurers, rulers, protractors, and use any type of calculator for use during the competition All reference materials to be used during the competition must be secured in a 3-ring binder; materials must be 3-hole punched so that nothing can fall out.

Laser Shoot Parameters 561 cm x 10.0 0.5cm x 35 1cm Barrier along the center line, 2-4cm in width Two mirrors Target along back

Wind Power

Event Format Part I—Test on Wind Power and the physics of wind power Part II—Student pre-built blade assembly is tested on CD motor apparatus; maximum current generated (in mA) recorded

Event Parameters 20” box multispeed fan Support stand Clamp LOAD RESISTOR of 5.0-7.5 applied to everyone’s device (same applied by event supervisor to everyone) Spring-load type CD clip found on PORTABLE BATTERY POWERED CD PLAYERS

Blade Assembly Parameters Must be mounted to a CD so that it can fit on the CD motor assembly Blades must be between 25.0-28.0cm long CD may be cut, but inside ring that attaches to motor must remain intact

Earth and Space Science Events 2011 Astronomy

General Format Typically in test format although this year it specifies that it may include one or more stations Likewise, may be shown objects to identify through powerpoint

Event Parameters Laptop OR 3-ring binder (any size) Materials in binder MUST be hole-punched and inserted into the rings (notebook sleeves allowed) Programmable Calculator allowed Internet access is NOT allowed

Topics for 2011 Quasars Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) Galaxy Clusters & Groups of Galaxies Star Formation SUPERMASSIVE Blackholes Galactic Structure Globular Clusters Type Ia & Type II Supernovae Eclipsing Binaries X-ray Binaries

Some Deep Space Objects Epsilon Aurigae (Eclipsing Binary/Argol Variable) NGC 6240 (Two galaxies colliding, each with a supermassive blackhole at center) 3C321 (System of two galaxies rotating around each other) “Death Star Galaxy” supermassive blackhole Cen(taurus) A (lenticular galaxy) Radio galaxyactive galactic nucleus Stephan’s Quintet (5 visually linked galaxies, 4 form galaxy group) MACSJ0717 (Galaxy cluster) Bullet Cluster (two colliding galaxies, evidence for dark matter) Perseus A (Seyfert galaxy)

Possible Tasks Analysis multiple wavelength images of the DSO’s (should have each DSO in multiple wavelength images) Analysis of light curves (Cepheids, RR Lyrae, Type Ia Superova) with distance calculations (Period-Luminosity, distance modulus) Analysis of spectra—Doppler shift and Doppler broadening Orbital Motion of Binaries Cosmological Distances (Parallax, Distance Modulus, Cepheids, Type Ia Superova, Red shift and Hubble’s law)

Dynamic Planet

General Format Test format, although may include stations

Event Parameter Allowed four (4), double-side 8.5”x11” pages of notes Allowed up to two (2) non-graphing calculators.

Topics Earth’s Fresh Waters Interpret USGS topo maps Stream drainage systems Channel types Sediment River valley forms and processes Perennial & intermittent stream flow Groundwater Karst features Lake formation and types, lake features Wetlands Dams and levees Hydrologic cycle Pollution

Tasks Analysis of features on topo map Water table contour map Watershed boundaries, elevation, gradient, direction of flow, drainage pattern, valley shapes, erosional landscapes, depositional features Water table contour map Indicate direction of groundwater movement Analysis of data on thermal structure of a lake Determine how stratification changes seasonally

Fossils

Event Format Stations—Emphasis on Fossil Identification Given a set amount of time to move between stations; cannot return to a station Answer questions about classification, habitat, ecologic relationship, behaviors, dating and correlating rocks

Event Parameters Allowed one (1) magnifying glass Allowed one (1) published field guide Allowed one 3-ring binder (any size) Materials must be 3-hole punched and inserted into the rings

Topics Conditions required for fossilization Modes of preservation Relative dating Absolute dating Radiometric, half-life, carbon dating Geologic time scale Index Fossils Fossils bearing sedimentary rocks Modes of life Environments Mineral and organic compounds of skeletons Taxonomic hierarchy Features of major fossil groups Major paleontological events

Know and tab the list! Students should tab in their guide each fossil on the 2011 fossil list Students should know index fossils and the geologic period during which it thrived Buy a fossil kit and have kids practice!

Remote sensing

Event Format Event Parameters Tests or stations Allowed up to five (5) two-sided 8.5” x 11” sheets of paper containing information from any source Allowed metric ruler, protractor, triangle Allowed any kind of non-graphing calculator

Topic: Human Impact on the Environment Causes, consequences & evidence for human impact on the environment Analyze and interpret remote sensing images Math computations to analyze or express quantitative data Understand concepts and terms related to the sustainability of the terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric environments on earth Development and resource extraction Radiative balance of atmosphere Natural and man-made sources of greenhouse gases Changes in land, atmospheric, and oceanic temperatures Carbon, nitrogen, and hydrologic cycles Understand principles of satellite imagery Interpret digital data presented numerical on a grid

Resources Science Olympiad Store—Remote Sensing CD NASA UCAR http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/ (Tutorial on Remote Sensing) http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/for_educators/educational_dvd.php (Dynamic Earth--NASA Our Ever-Changing Planet) http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/index.html (NASA Looks at Earth) UCAR http://www2.ucar.edu/news/backgrounders/understanding-climate-change-global-warming